Training device for golf ball putting

ABSTRACT

A training device for golf ball putting, comprising a support frame having a horizontal beam, a central target suspended from the beam, and side targets also suspended from the beam at both sides of the central target, to produce a sound when hit by a golf ball. These targets have different acoustic characteristics so that when hit they make different sounds which serve to judge the course of the ball without looking at the ball. The device includes means for suspending the targets, including a bracket and at least two fittings for the targets. The device may have secondary or convenience features incorporated therein.

1451 Feb. 12, 1974 United States Patent 1 1 Yamada 2,516,997 871950 Kellinger et a]. 273/127 D TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLF BALL PUTTING [76] Inventor:

Nobuo Yamada, L13, Lehome Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or FirmEric H. Waters FOflL0ee akmr m whh S nH mb eH flase flUfl h .m Pnge fi m d er. e in m h h cm a wke a f 3 Op GOVJTSMM .mw m wwr t .l mbm .ms h flw ah St m2 mfiw m Aw mm wwflm R memdtm Tlo m des mm m e wrem m m fu A m a d .mm e e mmw wm C U3 U6 W md O ee oo c w d err wh e m f e an 8 d d 0 nf eo e m w mhw .lO n WdT. Inn W65 u 1 M wam m m AS SmTn mb m nus 0 7 8 I H79I/ 4 y y oo k 761 a 0 D2 ,0 T 7 78 2B 21 m 1 i9 .1 32 B7 m 70 1 a m 3 2 g 2 R7 mmn 7 5 "I, w w 27 v H m 6 3 H 3 2 7 7 m 7, 2 m7 l 5 U "h ma u 7 u r. J2 r s .a Q m Q N L i I C n d .l. k W s 14. F A U h 2 2 5 55 [rt I. [rt

[ 56] References Cited targets, including a bracket and at least two fittings for UNITED STATES PATENTS the targets. The device may have secondary or convenience features incorporated therein.

164,641 6/!875 Draper..................... 273/l02.l B X 2,438,263 3/1948 Alves 273/127 D 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTED FE B l 2 I974 SHEEI 2 0F 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. .5

1 TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLF BALL PUTTING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to training devices for golf ball putting and, more particularly, to a novel training device for golf ball putting having sound targets of different acoustic characteristics and adapted to produce different sounds when hit by a golf ball.

Several kinds of training devices for golf ball putting have been known. These devices are in the form of a plate or sheet formed with a hole or cup-like recess into which golf balls are driven. Therefore, the known training devices provide a mere target to which the golf ball is to be driven. With such devices a player must look after a putted ball after his putting action to find out whether or not the ball has entered the hole or the recess. This is disadvantageous because his putting form will be disturbed by looking after the ball and there will be needed some interval of time until he assumes a putting form again for the next putting action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to eliminate such disadvantages of the known training devices for golf ball putting.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new training device for golf ball putting wherein a player can judge the course of the ball without looking after the ball which he is putting.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a new training device wherein a player can judge the course of the ball by merely hearing a sound produced by one of a plurality of targets.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel training device for golf ball putting wherein adjustment of the positions of a plurality of targets can be easily made.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel training device wherein adjoining targets are arranged so that they do not produce sounds at the same time even when the ball runs intermediate of the adjoining targets.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel training device which may be easily assembled and disassembled.

According to major features of this invention, briefly summarized, there is provided a training device for golf ball putting which comprises, in combination, a support frame having a horizontal beam, a central sound target freely suspended from said beam, at least one first side sound target suspended from said beam at one side of said central target and having an acoustic characteristic different from that of said central target, and at least one second side sound target suspended from said beam at the other side of said central target and having an acoustic characteristic different from that of said central target.

The nature, principle, and utility of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed description with respect to preferred embodiments of the invention, also relative to secondary features, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals and characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the training device for golf ball putting according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the training device;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a modification of a central sound target; and

FIG. 5 is'a fragmentary front elevation similar to FIG. 2, showing a modification of the training device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the training device for golf ball.

putting according to this invention. The training device is generally designated by reference numeral 2 and comprises a support frame 3 made preferably of a synthetic plastic and made up of a pair of upright pedestals 3a and a horizontal beam 312 connecting the pedestals 3a.

A central sound target 4 is suspended from the beam 3b at an intermediate part thereof. Similarly, a first side sound target 5 and a second side sound target 6 are suspended from the beam 3b at respective sides of the central target 4. The sound targets 4, 5 and 6 are preferably in the form of a rectangular plate as shown. The central target 4 is made of a metal such as light alloy which will make a sound when a golf ball strikes against it. It is preferable that the central target has such an acoustic characteristic as to make a pleasant or gay sound when struck by the golf ball.

The first side target 5 is also made of a metal such as light alloy which however will make a sound different from that of the central target 4. For this purpose, the side target 5 may be formed with several slits 7 to produce a different sound effect. The second side target 6 is also made of a metal such as light alloy which will make a sound different from that of the central target 4 and preferably different from that of the first side target 5. For this purpose, the target 6 may be formed with a number of perforations 8.

In order to produce different sound effects, it will also be possible to use different kinds of materials for the three targets. For example, the targets 4, 5 and 6 may be made of metal, plastic and wood, respectively.

These three targets are arranged in a horizontally equally spaced-apart and mutually adjoining relationship and are of substantially the same dimensions. As is clearly shown in FIG. 2, the bottom edges of the three targets 4, 5 and 6 are at the same horizontal level and spaced apart from the ground by a distance A which is smaller than, preferably about eight tenth of, the diameter of a golf ball B. The distances between the adjoining vertical edges of the adjoining targets are smaller than the diameter of the golf ball B, and the lower two corners of the central target 4 are preferably cut out at 4a.

Each of the targets 4, 5 and 6 is suspended from the beam 3b by means of suspension means 10. As is most clearly shown in FIG. 3, the suspension means 10 includes a bracket 11 preferably made of a synthetic resin and secured to the front surface of the beam 3 by adhesive, for example. The bracket 11 is of an L- shaped cross section and forms between the upright extension thereof and the front surface of the beam 3 an upwardly opening horizontal gap in which is removably fitted a downwardly extending tab 12a of a suspension fitting 12 of generally U-shaped cross section.

A front extension or a panel 12b of the fitting 12 extends downward along the front face of the bracket 11 beyond the lower edge thereof. A pair of flexible thin joint pieces 13 such as short strips of flexible synthetic plastic are secured at the upper ends thereof to the lower part of each of the fittings 12, and at the lower ends thereof to the upper edge of each of the targets 4,5,6. The thin flexible joint pieces are advantageous in obtaining a good sound effect of the targets.

It will be understood that each of the targets is freely swingable back and forth. The front panel 12b of each fitting may be provided with a forwardly projecting front tab 12c which may be pinched by the fingers when mounting and removing the fitting 12 into and out of the gap formed behind the vertical extension of the bracket 11.

As is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the horizontal length of the bracket 11 is greater than that of latter 12 so that the fitting may be shifted horizontally along the bracket 11 by manipulating the tab 120 thereof to adjust the horizontal spacing between the vertical edge of the associated target and the vertical edge of the adjoining target.

In use, the training device according to this invention is placed on a lawn, a carpet or a training mat, and a player stands at an appropriate distance from the front side of the device. Then, the player hits or putts a golf ball with a putting club toward the device. When the putted ball takes the best course toward the targets, it will hit the central target 4 so that it will make a specific sound whereby the course of the ball will be known without looking at the device.

It will readily be understood that when the putted ball deviates from the best course it will hit one of the side targets 5 and 6 and the respective, different characteristic sound will be heard whereby the course of the ball will again be known without looking at the target. Further, when the putted ball runs intermediate of two adjoining targets, it will pass through the intermediate space between the targets without hitting either of them, because of the provision of the cutout 4a. Accordingly, in such a case it can be avoided that two kinds of sounds are produced at the same time, which would be confusing in judging the course of the ball without looking after the putted ball. Thus, it will be noted that the player can putt the balls continually or successively while making delicate adjustment to the manner of putting because he can judge the courses of the putted balls merely by hearing the sounds of the targets without looking after the balls.

FIG. 4 shows a modified central target 4 having a bell 14 suspended by a string 15 in an opening 16 formed in the target 4. It will be noted that the bell 14 rings when the central target 4 is hit by a golf ball.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a modified training device in which the side targets 5 and 6 are also formed with corner cutouts 5a and 6a, respectively. In this modification the spacing between adjoining vertical edges of the adjoining targets may be made smaller.

It is advantageous to prepare a further or alternative central target 4A as shown by a dot and dash line in Flg. 2. This alternative central target is of a narrower horizontal width and may be used in place of the central target 4 when a player has improved his putting technique by utilizing the training device fitted with the broader central target 4.

In the examples shown in the drawings, only on side target is provided at each side of the central target. But it is also possible to provide more than one side target at each side of the central target. In this case a wider range of the ball courses will be covered by the targets.

Furthermore, the suspension means for the targets may be wire strings which serve to hang the targets from the horizontal beam.

I claim:

1. A training device for gold ball putting, comprising in combination: a support frame having a horizontal beam; a central sound target for producing a sound when hit by a golf ball; at least on first and at least one second side sound target located at respective sides of said central target having acoustic characteristics different from that of said central target; and means for suspending said targets from said beam, said suspension means including at least one horizontally extending bracket on said beam, at least two removable suspension fittings supported on said bracket in a horizontally slidable manner with respect to and along said bracket, and at least two flexible jointpieces connecting at least one of said fittings and at least one of said targets, constituting means for selectively adjusting the distances between adjoining pairs of said targets.

2. The training device as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame has a pair of side pedestals and said beam is connected at both ends to said pedestals.

3. The training device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a manipulating tab projecting from each of said fittings.

4. The training device as defined in claim 1, wherein said targets are in the form of rectangular plates.

5. The training device as defined in claim 1, wherein said targets are made of different kinds of materials.

6. The training device as defined in claim 12, wherein said bracket has an L-shaped cross-section and is secured on said beam to define an upwardly open horizontal gap formed between said bracket and said beam, each of said fittings having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, with a downwardly extending rear tab and a front panel, said rear tabs being removably and horizontally slidably inserted in said gap, said joint pieces connecting one of said front panels and the upper edge of said central target.

7. The training device as defined in claim 6, wherein said central target is cut out at the lower comers thereof.

8. The training device as defined in claim 7, wherein said side targets are also cut out at lower corners thereof, adjacent said central target.

9. The training device as defined in claim 6, wherein one of said side targets is formed with slits cut therein and another of said side targets is formed with perforations therein.

10. The training device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a bell attached to said central target.

i t 1. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated February 12,197LF Patent No. 3,7 55

NOBUO YAMADA Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet, insert E 30] Foreign Application Priority Data Japan 66 +62/7| 'July 28,1971

Signed and sealed this 6th day of August 197A.

(SEAL) Attest McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM po'wso (w'sg) uscoMM-Dc Bean-Pen U. 5. GOVERNMENY PRINTING OFFICE 2 l9! 0-356-33. 

1. A training device for gold ball putting, comprising in combination: a support frame having a horizontal beam; a central sound target for producing a sound when hit by a golf ball; at least on first and at least one second side sound target located at respective sides of said central target having acoustic characteristics differenT from that of said central target; and means for suspending said targets from said beam, said suspension means including at least one horizontally extending bracket on said beam, at least two removable suspension fittings supported on said bracket in a horizontally slidable manner with respect to and along said bracket, and at least two flexible jointpieces connecting at least one of said fittings and at least one of said targets, constituting means for selectively adjusting the distances between adjoining pairs of said targets.
 2. The training device as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame has a pair of side pedestals and said beam is connected at both ends to said pedestals.
 3. The training device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a manipulating tab projecting from each of said fittings.
 4. The training device as defined in claim 1, wherein said targets are in the form of rectangular plates.
 5. The training device as defined in claim 1, wherein said targets are made of different kinds of materials.
 6. The training device as defined in claim 12, wherein said bracket has an L-shaped cross-section and is secured on said beam to define an upwardly open horizontal gap formed between said bracket and said beam, each of said fittings having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, with a downwardly extending rear tab and a front panel, said rear tabs being removably and horizontally slidably inserted in said gap, said joint pieces connecting one of said front panels and the upper edge of said central target.
 7. The training device as defined in claim 6, wherein said central target is cut out at the lower corners thereof.
 8. The training device as defined in claim 7, wherein said side targets are also cut out at lower corners thereof, adjacent said central target.
 9. The training device as defined in claim 6, wherein one of said side targets is formed with slits cut therein and another of said side targets is formed with perforations therein.
 10. The training device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a bell attached to said central target. 